Toy bomber



ec. 29, 1953 .1. v. KELLOGG 2,663,969

TOY BOMBER Filed Feb. 20, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. m CK 1/. KELLOG a QTTOR N5 /5 J. v.' KELLOGG Dec. 29, 1953 TOY BOMBER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 20, 1950 INVENTOR. JACK I KELLOGG NEW A TTOIZ VEYS.

Patented Dec. 29, 1953 TOY BOMBER Jack V. Kellogg, Ashtabula, Ohio Application February 20, 1950, Serial No. 145,125

8 Claims.

This invention relates, as indicated, to toy airplanes, and in particular to toy airplanes designed to simulate aerial bombing.

In recent years, model planes have become the hobby of an increasing number of persons. It has become the favorite hobby of many to assemble model planes from model plane kits, such kits containing the disassembled parts of a complete model plane. The armed services, during the late war, did muchto encourage this interest in model planes, by requesting that hobbyists construct various types for use in teaching recognition to airmen.

However, model planes previously marketed have tended to be somewhat crude, and of rather antiquated design.

A primary object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a toy bomber of the modern jettype, which is suitable for marketing in a model plane kit and easily assembled by the purchaser, or which may be sold completely assembled.

Another object is to provide a toy bomber designed to deliver bombs singly on a target, or

to deliver all its bombs simultaneously.

Another object is to provide a toy bomber whose jet design can be utilized in sighting, thereby concealing "such sighting means.

Another object is to provide a toy bomber which is inexpensive to manufacture, yet sturdy and reliable and easy to operate.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the following description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, according to a preferred embodiment of themesent invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical line 2-2 in'Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line 3-3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing an alternative locking device;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken along the longitudinal center of the plane, showing an alternative bomb rack mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the plane, showing the alternative bomb rack mechanism;

sectional view taken on the Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a toy bomb; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the toy airplane and a target.

I have provided, as one preferred embodiment of my invention, a toy airplane consisting of a fuselage with an opening in the under portion thereof, having within its fuselage a bomb-supporting rack, means for efiecting rotation of the rack, thereby to permit the release of bombs singly, means for releasing all bombs simultaneously, and means for sighting on the target.

Referring now more particularly to such drawings, and especially to Fig. 1 thereof, my new toy airplane includes the usual fuselage I, rudder 2, propeller 3, wheels 4 and their undercarriage 5.

Anopening 6 is provided in the under portion of the fuselage l of sufiicient dimensions to allow simulated bombs 1 to be discharged singly therethrough or to allow the bomb-carrying mechanism 8, hereinafter described, to pivot down through such opening intoa vertical position, thereby to release all bombs simultaneously. Such opening 6 may be provided with bomb-bay doors 9, thereby to effectively conceal the bombs and associated mechanism. Such doors tend normally to hang in open position as shown in Fig. 2 but may be latched in closed position when desired by means of latch 9'.

Within the fuselage and above the opening 6 is located the bomb-carrying mechanism 8 comprising a thin metal cylindrical shell or casing 10 pivotally mounted in such fuselage on horizontal shafts II and I2 rigidly fixed toward the rear of such casing, thereby to permit the latter to swing into vertical position, such casing having a vaned rotor l3 rotatably mounted therein. The casing is open at its front end I 4 only, and is normally locked in horizontal, or single release, position having its axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the airplane. A slot I5 is cut in the periphery of the casing along lines parallel to its axis. Such slot has a' width approximately equal to the diameter of a bomb, and is in the underside of such' casing when the latter is in normal horizontal position, thereby to permit passage of but a single bomb at a time. The vaned rotor 13, coaxially mounted within the casing on center shaft I6, comprises a plurality of radially extending vanes I! which divide the easing into an equal number of bomb-receiving compartments I8. Such vaned rotor may fit within the casing sufficiently snugly that no spe- 'cial bearings are required for center shaft is, while permitting the vaned rotor to be manually rotated as described below.

Center shaft I6 projects through a hole l9 in the closed end of the casing, and fixed to the end of such shaft is a gear 23 adapted to mesh with a smaller gear 2| carried by bracket 22 on the fuselage, such latter gear projecting through the side of the fuselage to permit manual operation of the same. Upon manually turning this smaller gear 2!, the vaned rotor I3 is turned, thereby releasing the bombs, one at a time, as the bomb compartments [8 successively come into registry with the slotted portion of the casing it. When the bomb-carrying mechanism 8 is tipped, as hereinafter described, axial movement of the. vaned rotor I3 is prevented by the relationship. of the closed end of the casing and gear 20.

Both shafts I! and V I2, which support the; bomb-carrying mechanism,,ex ten.d through. the fuselage, having knurled knobs 23 and 24 fixed on the ends thereof. On one such shaft, [2- is provided a key 25, which, upon being fitted into its keyway 26 in the fuselage, is held there by a compression spring 2'!v mounted on the other shaft II interposed between knurled knob 23 and the fuselage. The shafts H and 12 are afiixed rearwardly of the center of gravity of the bombcarrying mechanism. 8 so that, upon withdrawing key 25 from its keyway 2,6, the gears will be disengaged and the bomb-carrying mechanism and its associated shaft and gear will pivot into a vertical position, whereupon all bombs drop simultaneously through the open end [4 of the casing 10.

An alternative locking device is shown in Fig. 4. Such device consists of a removable pin 28 which may be inserted through a hole 29 in the fuselage and into a slotted latch 30, such latch extending longitudinally from the outer surface of the casing l and rigidly attached thereto, thereby to hold the bomb-carrying mechanism in single release position. ;Upon withdrawing the pin, the bomb-carrying mechanism and its associated shaft and gear will pivot to a vertical position, sufiicient play or back-lash being provided between gears 26) and 2! so that they will disengage, whereupon all bombs are. discharged as previously described.

In the embodiment illustrated, geared means have been provided for actuation of the vaned rotor, but obviously other means, such as rubber friction wheels, may be employed,

An alternative form of bomb rack 31 is shown in Figs. and 6. Such bomb rack includes four panels 32, 33, 3d and 35 arranged to form a compartment 36 of rectangular cross-section to hold a stack of bombs in a single vertical column, such compartment being open at the top, whereby the bomb rack may be loaded, and an endless belt 31, supported on rollers 38 and 39, on which the stack of bombs rests. Sufficient space remains between. the bottom edge of panel 32 and the endless belt 3'! for passage of but a single bomb at a time. A shaft 40 rigidly fixed to roller 38 and extending through a hole 4| in the fuselage has fixed on the end thereof a knurled, knob 42. The bombs may be released singly by turning knurled knob 42, thereby actuating the endless belt and forcing the bottom-most bomb forward through the space provided between such belt and the bottom ed e of; panel 32. Baffle 43; di rects the nose of the; bomb downward and through the, hole 44 in the fuselage.

Rearwardly of the. bomb-carrying mechanism is located a reflector 45 for the purpose of sighting on a target, such reflector being fixed to a horizontal shaft 46 rotatably mounted in the fuselage. A knurled knob 41; threaded on such shaft may be tightened against the fuselage, thereby to hold the reflector in any desired rotative position 48. The reflector is equipped with cross-hairs 49 to facilitate sighting on a target and a graduated scale may be provided indicating the degree of inclination of the reflector.

Referring to Fig. '7, the simulated bombs may comprise a hollow casing 50 of conical contour with a plurality of vanes;- or fins 5!. fixed to the rear thereof, and a removable soft molded rubber nose 52. Such nose has several longitudinal slits 53 in its periphery, thereby permitting powder to escape upon impact to simulate an explosion and to mark the hit. Such nose can be removed to fill? the bomb, with any powdery substance, such In the operation of the airplane, the operator first adjusts the reflector 45 for the height at which he intends to fly over the target. Then, with bomb-bay doors 9 open, he. holds the, airplane horizontally and approximately over. the target, and sights on the. reflector through the jet hole 54 in the. tail. When the image of his target is on the. cross. hairs 49, he turnsv the gear 21,. which turnsv the vaned rotor 13, whereupon a bomb falls through the slot. IS in they casing 1.0 and through the openingiiv in. the. fuselage. By continuing to turn the. gear 2|, bombs will singly drop as each compartmentv l8 of the vaned rotor 13, successively comes into registry with the slotted portion [5 of, the. casing I0. v

Should the operator wish to release all the bombs at once, he. merely withdraws the, key 25 from keyway 26,. whereupon the off-centered bomb-carrying mechanism 8 swings toa vertical position, and all of the. bombsdrop simultaneous- 1y through the open end M of the casing I ll. Or, if the alternate. pin locking; device 28 is used, such pin is merely withdrawn, whereupon the bombs are all released as above described.

In the operation of the alternative bomb rack 31 shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the. operator merely turns the knurled knob 42. This actuates the endless belt 3.1 which causes the bottom-most bomb to moveforward, against baffle-43 and thence down through the. hole 44 in the under portion of the fuselage. By continuing to turn the knurled knob 42, bombs will singly and successively be moved forward and down through hole 44. as described above.

It will be seen that, while a novelbomb rack. capable of either single or simultaneous release, and its associated mechanism have been incorporated into the design of this toy airplane, the lines of a modern jet. plane have been substantially retained. Indeed, the unique design of a modernjet plane: has been utilized in construction of the sighting means, for, as will be noted from the drawings and preceding description, the jet hole in the tail of the toy airplane, a distinguishing mark of a jet plane, is. sighted through by the operator to locate histarget... In addition, the toy airplane embodying this invention will be inexpensive to manufacture for sale either assembled or in model plane kits.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the. following claims or the equivalent of such. be employed.

I therefore, particularly point. out and distinctly claim, as my invention:

1. In a toy airplane having a. hollow fuselage, a cylindrical casing mounted longitudinally therein on. transverse pivots rearwardly of: the

longitudinal center of said casing, locking means releasably operative to hold said casing in a horizontal position, a rotor rotatably coaxially mounted within said casing and provided with a plurality of radially disposed vanes forming bomb-receiving compartments, said fuselage being provided with an opening in its under portion dimensioned to permit passage of said casing when the latter is pivoted to a vertical position, said casing being provided with a slot in the under portion thereof dimensioned to permit passage of but a single bomb at one time upon rotation of said rotor to bring such compartments sequentially into registry therewith, gear means manually operable to turn said rotor, said casing having its forward end open to permit release of all bombs simultaneously upon said casing being pivoted to a vertical position, and a reflector adjustably pivotally mounted within said fuselage rearwardly of said casin adapted to reflect the image of a subjacent target through a sighting opening in the tail of said airplane.

2. In a toy airplane having a hollow fuselage, a cylindrical casing mounted longitudinally therein on transverse pivots rearwardly of the longitudinal center of said casing, locking means releasably operative to hold said casing in a horizontal position, a rotor rotatably co-axially mounted within said casing and provided with a plurality of radially disposed vanes forming bombreceiving compartments, said fuselage being provided with an opening in its under portion dimensioned to permit passage of said casing when the latter is pivoted to a vertical position, said casing being provided with a slot in the under portion thereof dimensioned to permit passage of but a single bomb at one time upon rotation of said rotor to bring such compartments sequentially into registry therewith, gear means manually operable to turn said rotor, said casing having its forward end open to permit release of all bombs simultaneously upon said casing being pivoted to a vertical position, and sighting means within said fuselage for visual aiming at a subjacent target.

3. In a toy airplane having a hollow fuselage, a cylindrical casing mounted longitudinally therein on transverse pivots. locking means releasably operative to hold said casing in a horizontal position, a rotor rotatably co-axially mounted within said casing and provided with a plurality of radially disposed vanes forming bomb-receiving compartments, said fuselage being provided with an opening in its under portion dimensioned to permit passage of said casing when the latter is pivoted to a vertical position, said casing being provided with a slot in the under portion thereof dimensioned to permit passage of but a single bomb at one time upon rotation of said rotor, rotative means manually operable to turn said rotor, said casing having an open end to permit release of all bombs simultaneously upon said casing being pivoted to a vertical position, and sighting means within said fuselage for visual aiming at a subjacent target.

4. In a toy airplane having a hollow fuselage, a cylindrical casing mounted therein on transverse pivots, locking means releasably operative to hold said casing in a horizontal position, a rotor rotatably co-axially mounted within said casing and having means thereon for accommodating a plurality of bombs, said fuselage being provided with an opening in its under portion dimensioned to permit passage of said casing when the latter is pivoted to a vertical position, said casing being provided with a slot in'the under portion thereof dimensioned to permit passage of but a single bomb at one time upon rotation of said rotor, rotative means manually operable to turn said rotor, said casing having an open end to permit release of all bombs simultaneously upon said casing being pivoted to a vertical position, and sighting means within said fuselage for visual aiming at a subjacent target.

5. In a toy airplane having a hollow fuselage, a cylindrical casing mounted therein on transverse pivots, locking means releasably operative to hold said casing in a horizontal position, a rotor rotatably co-axially mounted within said casing and having means thereon for accommodating a plurality of bombs, and rotative means manually operable to turn said rotor, said fuselage being provided with an opening in its under portion dimensioned to permit passage of said casing when the latter is pivoted to a vertical position, said casing being provided with a slot in the under portion thereof dimensioned to permit passage of but a single bomb at one time upon rotation of said rotor, and said casing having an open end to permit release of all bombs simultaneously upon said casing being pivoted to a vertical position.

- 6. In a toy airplane having a hollow fuselage, a cylindrical casing mounted therein on transverse pivots, means operative to releasably hold said casing in horizontal position, a rotor rotatably coaxially mounted within said casing and having compartments therein for accommodating a plurality of bombs, and means operative to rotate said rotor, said fuselage being provided with an opening in its under portion to permit passage of such bombs therethrough, and said casing having a slot in the under portion thereof dimensioned to permit passage of but a single bomb at one time upon rotation of said rotor but provided with an open end to permit release of all bombs simultaneously upon said casing being pivoted to a vertical position.

7. In a top airplane having a hollow fuselage, a cylindrical casing mounted longitudinally therein on transverse pivots rearwardly of the longitudinal center of said casing adapted to receive a plurality of simulated bombs, locking means releasably operative to hold said casing in a horizontal position, said fuselage being provided with an opening in its under portion dimensioned to permit passage of said casing when the latter is pivoted to a vertical position, said casing having its forward end open to permit release of all bombs simultaneously upon said casing being pivoted to a vertical position, and a reflector within said fuselage fixed on a horizontal transverse shaft adjustably rotatably mounted therein .to allow sighting through the tail of said fuselage upon a subjacent target.

8. In a toy airplane having a hollow fuselage, a cylindrical casing mounted horizontally longitudinally therein, a rotor rotatably coaxially mounted within said casin and provided with a plurality of radially disposed vanes forming bomb-receiving compartments, said fuselage being provided with an opening in its under portion dimensioned to permit passage of such bombs, said casing being provided with a slot in the under portion thereof dimensioned to permit passage of but a single bomb at one time upon rotation of said rotor to bring such compartments sequentially into registry therewith, gear means manually operable to turn said rotor, and a reflector within said fuselage fixed on a tmrmverse .hqrl ntal 5min aq ustabl pi otally m un d th si to allgw fight n thm' gh the il of said fuselage, up n s bjacent t rg ACK V- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,234,095 Stout Mar. 4, 1941 2,286,151 Miller June 9, 1942 Numbar Number Great Britain July 17, 1919 Germany Feb. 4, 1920 

